A/N: Alright, I wanted to continue with the date, but my continuation means a rating change. Hint - Hint. Though honestly it's nothing too graphic in this chapter. I also wanted o have a light chapter, because the next few will be a little dark. Please let me know if you find any of this to be too campy. I don't want his to feel rushed or like someone is about to fall over heels in love. Elena and Bucky like each other and can admit their attraction to one another. I just want them to have fun right now...nothing to heavily serious. Special Thanks to: TeamBedward, Guest, Markup, Jay, FortuneFollower, and LadyStrider17 for reviewing. I do appreciate all the feedback - don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I own what is mine
Chapter Ten
1928 Brooklyn, New York
"How'd you get up there?"
Bucky tilted his head curiously as he stared up at his friend. Stevie's large blue eyes peered down at him from the oak tree he had managed to climb and while Bucky was curious about how Steve had managed to get up so high, he was beginning to grow more curious about why his friend was in the tree. Secretly, he was a bit impressed that Stevie had managed to get up there at all. The last time the small blonde had been at any particular height he had turned a peculiar shade of white and Bucky had been sure he would be sick….Actually, Stevie was turning that shade now.
Unconsciously, Bucky took a few steps backward as Steve answered dryly, "I climbed up."
"Figured that, ya punk." Bucky responded just as dryly as he circled the tree. There was no low hanging branch to grab onto and he was taller than Stevie. He hummed in discontent as he tried to find whatever box or rock Steve had to have used to get up.
He found none.
Huffing quietly, he frowned in frustration and turned his head up to find Steve watching him in amusement, "What?"
"Nuthin'." Steve chirped as he grinned
Bucky rolled his eyes before deciding to give into the only way of climbing up he could think of – he latched onto the sides of the rough tree trunk and tried to hoist himself up.
Sadly, he didn't make much progress and felt his feet slip the moment he tried to step up. Yet, he wouldn't give up. He tried to push on. He must have looked absolutely ridiculous. His feet moved wildly as he tried to gain leverage, but it just wouldn't happen. Yet, when he finally did manage to get a foot hold…he couldn't get his hands to move up the trunk. With a grunt and a huff he pushed and managed to get maybe a foot off the ground when his foot slipped again and he fell with a resounding thud to the ground.
A quiet snickering drifted down to meet his ears and Bucky fell back to view his friend's sadistic pleasure, "You think this is funny?"
"Only alot." Steve chortled as he watched Bucky rest in the grass in a shambled mess.
Bucky waved a dismissive hand, "Yuck it up. I'm just gonna enjoy the nice solid ground. Don't need to worry about toppling over down here."
He watched through slatted eyes as Stevie turned white again and felt a little vindictive as his friend glared down at him. He regretted his lazy position a moment later as he felt something hard hit his stomach. He groaned low and rolled over to find he had been taken out by a baseball, "Jeeze, you're mean."
"You deserved that and you know it." Steve drawled as he watched Bucky play up the dramatics with his continued whimpering and low cries, "You're worse than a girl."
Bucky abruptly stopped his antics with an aggrieved glare. He slumped back onto the grass with a smirk a second later, "But really…how'd you get up there?"
Steve rolled his eyes and took off his jacket to let it dangle down to the brown-haired boy. Bucky quickly latched on and managed to scamper up the tree without pulling Steve off. Admittedly, he wasn't quite sure how he managed to do that…but well- he did. He grinned obnoxiously at his friend and tried not to snigger as Steve rolled his eyes again even while he returned his smile. Bucky was about to crack a joke when Steve nodded behind him.
The small blonde shifted and pointed out through the branches, "Look."
More than a little bemused, but hopeful that whatever Steve was pointing at would give him insight into his friend's tree climbing adventures Bucky turned. He felt his breath leave him as he caught sight of what held Steve' attention, "Wow…"
The sun was getting low in the sky and sunset wasn't far away, but the light-blue sky in the west was already getting dark with purple hues. The tree they were in had a good view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Bucky had never seen it bathed in such a glowing light. He watched fascinated as the water glittered in the sun's dimming light with wavy shadows dancing on the bridges brownish brick. He and Steve shared another grin as they sat back in the trees branches to watch the sunset. It didn't occur to either one of them that it would be curfew soon and that the sisters at the orphanage would be concerned about their whereabouts. Somehow their future punishment was worth this moment, though Bucky would later realize that Steve never told him how he got up in the tree.
1937 Manhattan, New York
He had given her much to remember that night.
A wistful smile drew across her lips as James stirred and shifted. The moonlight streaming through her window highlighted the peaceful expression across his face – it only made him look more attractive, she thought ruefully. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so peacefully, at least not without the aid of alcohol. He was beautiful. Handsome would be the more appropriate word, she supposed, but he was beautiful. Much like the art filled station he had shown her earlier. Elena drank in the sight of the naked man in her bed. He was all hard lines and smooth skin and she couldn't help the thrill that twisted beneath her breast as she committed that moment to memory.
Hesitantly, she reached out to gently trace the outline of his chest. Her touch unconsciously searching for his heart, despite the fact that she could feel the steady beat long before her hand finished traveling over his sternum.
"You should be asleep."
His voice was rough and deep with disturbed slumber and Elena's gaze flickered up to meet his instantly. She was suddenly glad for the dark as it hid the flush that rose to her cheeks at having been caught in her momentary molestation. His eyes shined in the dim light with subdued humor and she found herself whispering an apology, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Bucky huffed a small laugh, "Round two would be difficult if I weren't conscious, sweetheart."
"Round two?" Elena questioned in confusion as she wondered if James was indeed awake or if he spoke in his sleep.
Bucky bit back a yawn as he nodded and shifted closer to her. His warm hands dipped beneath the sheet that wrapped around their bodies to skim over her hip, "You're too awake. Haven't done a good enough job if you're not exhausted."
Elena giggled quietly as she surrendered to his groping touch. His fingers skillfully teasing her as he explored, though she did put up a token resistance as she noted the true weariness in his eyes, "I'm awake because there's a boy in my bed."
She didn't expect James to still at her words or for him to lose the last traces of sleep as he suddenly regarded her warily – as if he were treading dangerous ground. Her teasing smile slipped away at that look and before she had the chance to question him, he surprised her by asking quite seriously, "Do you want me to go?"
"No. Don't be ridiculous, where would you go?" Elena rebuffed as she felt confusion descend upon her a second time. She swore that sometimes he spoke a different language.
James raised up on his arm so he could better look at her, "If you're uncomfortable, I don't have to stay, Ellie."
Understanding dawned on Elena and she had to bite back a laugh. Though she did smile brightly at James as she reached out to cup his cheek. She wasn't wrong, the man beside her was beautiful in many ways, "You're very sweet. You being in my bed isn't uncomfortable for me. It's a curiosity... I'm intrigued."
It was Bucky's turn to be confused as he furrowed his brow, "You say that like I'm the first..." He trailed off as he caught the expectant glint in her expression, "I'm not - you've had... this isn't your first..."
"You were very tender." Elena deadpanned as she tried not to grin at his sudden panicked expression. In truth, he hadn't been close to tender... but then neither had she. They had been impatient by the time they had stumbled through the door to her apartment. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so frustrated by a button.
"I uhh.." Bucky managed to stutter out before he caught sight of the amusement that flashed across her face. He nearly collapsed in relief before he glared dimly at her, "You have a twisted sense of humor, you know that?"
"You make it easy." Elena said laughingly, "Yes, I've had sex. You're just the first to...stay."
Bucky's gaze turned incredulous, "Are you telling that wham, bam, thank you ma'am -"
"Usually wham, bam, thank you sir." Elena cut in softly before she felt James shaking. She blinked in surprised when she realized that he was laughing, "What? I like my space."
If anything that made James laugh harder, "Ellie..."
He trailed off shaking his head. Elena couldn't help, but feel a little uncertain at his amusement. She knew that she wasn't like most girls. She hated the pressure society placed on a woman to find to a husband, but even that pressure was dull in comparison to her mother. Vitoria had destroyed any notion that her daughter should marry for love and Elena despised the idea of being anyone's broodmare. So she rebelled in her own way.
As if he sensed her sudden bout of insecurity, James deftly found her hands to press back into the mattress as he moved to hover over her, "Now, what kinda moron lets a dame like you out of his bed?"
"Let me?" Elena challenged with a raised brow, "And I'm not a dame."
James snorted, "Yeah, you are princess."
Elena huffed and tugged experimentally on his grip, unsurprised to find she couldn't break it. Instead she kneed him lightly in the stomach, "Don't call me that."
James grunted in surprised as he chuckled. He didn't shift his grip, "Which? Princess or dame?"
"Both." She quipped before leveraging her weight to roll them. A startled yelp left her lips as she nearly tumbled off the bed, though it turned into laughter as James gripped her hips to keep her from falling too far. She steady herself against his chest as she met his mischievous grin with her own, "I win."
James raised a brow as he purposefully trailed his gaze over her body, lingering for a moment on the thin silver chain that hung from her neck to dangle a small ring between her breasts. The sheet had pooled somewhere at the bottom of the bed, leaving them exposed. Not that he was complaining, "I think I win actually."
Elena rolled her eyes, "Weren't you tired a minute ago?"
"Hardly." James muttered as he shifted so that she slid from his stomach to his lap.
Elena stifled a gasp at the hardness that pressed against her thigh, vaguely wondering how she had missed it earlier. James grinned at her heated look as he whispered, "It's a good thing we're not in my bed."
"Why's that?" Elena asked dryly as she slid her hands from his chest to wrap around his neck.
"Because I bet you'd already be gone. Miss. Wham Bam Thank You Sir." Bucky replied as he nipped at her neck.
Elena ground down on him in retaliation, even as she breathed a laugh. A rush of heat spiraled from her stomach and through her veins as James continued his exploration with his mouth. She sighed softly as his lips found her breast and she couldn't help but mutter, "You'd bet wrong."
She felt more than saw his smile before bit lightly at the soft slope of her chest and leaned back, "You're being contrary again."
"Maybe." Elena murmured amusedly as she slipped hand between them. The strangled groan that she pulled from his lips was more satisfying than any sensual touch, "Or maybe, I just find you intriguing."
James snorted as looked at her through hooded eyes, "You've used that word before."
"Mmhmm." She hummed as she finally leaned forward to kiss him. A soft gasp broke her mouth as he took the moment to enter her. Her fingers clawed into his shoulders at the sudden intrusion, but she couldn't help her moan as she pulled him deeper, "James..."
"You're gonna have to explain this intrigued business to me later." He whispered distractedly as he let her take control of their movements.
She flashed him a bright smile as she laughed, "Much later."
"Much, much later." He agreed as Elena pushed him back.
xXx
Bucky smirked as he took in Elena's prone form. She hogged the covers when she slept and as testament to that fact the sheets from her bed were wrapped almost completely around her. Even still he could make out a few of the love bites he had left on her neck and chest. As he finished buttoning his shirt and stretched the soreness in his shoulders and back attested that Ellie had left her mark as well.
"Ellie..." Bucky called quietly as he slid to sit on the edge of the bed, "Ellie...wake up."
A low muttered obscenity was his only response as Elena tried desperately to burrow into her pillow. He grinned widely, finding her curse far too amusing. Bending down, he found a love bite he had left the night before and began to nip and suck at the tender flesh until she twisted around to look at him through hazy eyes, "Why are you awake?"
"It's almost ten." Bucky commented wryly as he watched her take in his dressed state with a frown.
"We fell asleep at four. You're leaving." Elena stated more than asked as she stayed nestled in the bed.
Bucky would never point it out to her, but she was pouting. He swallowed a smile at the almost childish expression on her face – as if she were losing her favorite toy, "I have to work this afternoon. So I need to get going, sweetheart."
"But it's Saturday." Elena murmured disappointedly and nearly cringed. She had no desire to be that woman who pestered a man to stick around.
"Sorry, princess. I gotta take work wherever I can get it." He replied, absently rubbing her thigh, "I don't work Tuesday; dinner?"
She reached out to lightly pinch his hand as she shook her head, "Don't call me princess. I have class Tuesday. Wednesday?"
"No nagging about sweetheart, but princess gets a problem." Bucky murmured amusedly as he moved his hands out of her reach, "Can't on Wednesday or Thursday. Friday again?"
"Friday." Elena agreed as she shifted to sit up, "I can come to Brooklyn this time."
Bucky's brows raised in surprised. He had a hard time seeing Ellie strolling through his neighborhood, "You don't have to."
"I want to. You said it yourself you know Brooklyn better than Manhattan – So, show this country girl around Brooklyn." Elena stated almost challengingly as if she could sense his hesitance.
She probably did, Bucky thought dryly as he eyed her in amusement. She had a bad case of bedhead and almost no modesty as she let her sheets drop to her waist. Though as he thought about it, he wouldn't be surprised if she was displaying herself on purpose to entice him to stay. He wasn't ashamed to admit it was working too. He sighed lightly as he reached out to snag the ring laying between her breasts to pull her toward him, "Country girl my ass. Brooklyn it is."
He leaned down to steal a kiss, but was rebuffed as Elena turned her head at the last second. He paused as he wondered if this was her way of beginning her 'thank you, sir' routine and felt a sinking in his stomach, "El?"
"I haven't brushed my teeth." Elena murmured in explanation as she detangled his fingers from her ring. She eyed him reproachfully before placing a kiss to his cheek.
The sinking in his stomach turned to bewildered amusement as he cocked a brow at her, "Are you serious? Ellie?"
"No one likes foul breath." She defended lightly as he rolled his eyes. Though he did catch the way she twisted her ring around her fingers. A nervous habit he had noticed. Her fingers would twitch and if she latched onto something it was pulled through her fingers over and over. She did it with the ends of his hair when they kissed, with the napkin at the diner, and now with her ring.
He frowned for a moment as he plucked it from her grasp again to get a better look at the jewelry piece, "What is this anyway? Doesn't look like any purity ring I've ever seen?
It looked old actually, very old. It was a simple little silver ring, set with small sapphire stones. An engraving had been carved on the inner rim, but what it said Bucky could only guess as the language seemed foreign. When he realized that Elena hadn't spoken he flicked his eyes up to hers only to find that she was staring at the ring as well. A sad distant expression clouded her features and reminded Bucky all too much of the haunted gaze he had received when he had asked about Howard's boxing habits, "El?"
She blinked at his prompting and forced a faint smile to her lips. One that he could see was obviously fake, "It's just an old family ring. Papa's side of the family had it for ages. He gave it to me when I was little. Mother had never been happy about that."
Bucky's brow furrowed, "Why would that upset her? It's not like it's left the family."
"It was supposed to be given to my brother, Fergus. It had always been given to the eldest son. Papa broke tradition when he gave it to me and my mother is nothing, if not a stickler for tradition." Elena said sagely and by the bite behind her words Bucky sensed there wasn't much towards that side of the family, "When do you need to go?"
Bucky sighed at the reminder. He had half talked himself into ditching work and spending the day in bed with her, but he and Stevie needed the money. Nothing came cheap these days. He glanced at his watched and swore silently. He really needed to get a move on, "I should leave now."
"You could stay..." Elena sang tantalizingly as she tried to draw him back into bed.
"Don't tempt me." Bucky muttered regretfully as he caught sight of her naked form again. His eyes brightened for a second, "Hey, you never did tell me why I'm intriguing enough to not be kicked out of your bed."
Elena smiled shyly as she retorted, "Well you can either stay and find out or wait until Friday." Her smile turned devious as she caught his exasperated glare, "I think I'm beginning to like this date business."
"Cruel woman." Bucky scowled before he swooped down and stole a kiss from her.
He grinned as she huffed in annoyance, a small rebuke to her tone as she exclaimed, "Jimmy!"
"One for the road, doll." He said as he stood and made for the door, "And I don't know about this Jimmy business, either."
"Would you go already." She murmured in exasperation. Bucky paused at her bedroom door to catch a last glimpse of her and grinned when he saw her shy smile again, "Friday?"
"Friday." He confirmed before slipping out the door.
He found a pad of paper by her door and wrote his address down and a time. Another week to wait.